title: Evaluating Internet information on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) treatment: parent and expert perspectives.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Internet is increasingly used as a source of health-related information. The objective of this study was to assess the quality of web-based information on treatments for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen expert health professionals in ADHD and 35 parents of paediatric patients with a recent diagnosis of ADHD assessed the information contained in the 10 highest ranked websites in Spanish, using the Spanish version of the DISCERN tool - a validated questionnaire designed to assess the quality and reliability of web-based information on treatment choices (rating scores from 15 to 75).
  
  
  RESULTS
  DISCERN scores given by parents and experts were low (total mean scores [standard deviation]: 35.9 [13.1] and 43.4 [13.7], respectively) and inter-rater agreement was poor/moderate (weighted kappa for the global assessment between -0.69 and +0.93, average = 0.29). There was a significant change on the ADHD-knowledge and motivation for treatment (ADHD-KMT) basic knowledge sub-scale score after the assessment of the different websites by parents (total mean scores [standard deviation]: 49.09 [9.46] and 63.21 [9.45]).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite a poor/moderate inter-rater agreement between parent and expert opinions, all agreed that the quality of the web-based information on treatment choices for ADHD is generally poor.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research, Lilly Research Laboratories, Alcobendas, Spain. montoya_alonso@lilly.com
authors.forename: Alonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Montoya
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hernández
authors.forename: Montserrat Pamias
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Massana
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Herreros
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Garcia-Giral
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cardo
authors.forename: Jose Angel Alda
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Diez
authors.forename: Cesar
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Soutullo
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fernández-Jaén
authors.forename: Joaquin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fuentes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000628:therapy*; D054626:Consumer Health Information / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000592:standards; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010290:Parents; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires